Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-01-07
FLAGS AND SCALPs.
A Valuable and Interesting Collection n,
Riel Rebellion Relics.

Riel Rebellion Relics.
Louis Riel's flag is now floating in
Waterbury. 1t is nothing but an or
binary linen table cloth, bearing at one
enc end, sewed on, steel engraving.
''Notre Dame de Lourdes," with con-
siderable holy writing on the back of
it. Beneath it is written the full pedi-
gree OF the Riel family down to Louis,
who paid the penalty of his half-breed
rebellion in Canada by being hanged.
The flag was blessed, and for several
days, while floating from his council
chamber, was not fired upon by the
British, they thinking it flag of truce.
Lieutenant Howard, who was doino
such effective service with the Gatlino
gun. finally captured ii in the trenches
and brought it home. 1t is now 10
Jones, Morgan & Co.'S window on
Bank street, with whole carload OF
other interesting relics Of that rebel
lion which Lieutenant Howard brought
home, and which he has with him here
while his machinery is being made for
his Canadian cartridge factory.
Prominent among these is the full
outfit of Little Crow, the Minnesota
Sioux. 1t includes part of the blade.
with the hilt, of Mexican sword.
which must have belonged to some
officer killed in the massacre of 1868.
The scabbard is adorned with scalps,
as is also the tobacco and pipe pouch.
The pipe is very elaborate as weh as
the "pocketbook. In front lies the
trusty weapon of this chief, double
barreled muzzle-loading rifle, which
killed friend of Lieutanant Towards
among others. Near these is Little
White Caps scalp, the obtaining of
which by Lieutenant Howard caused so
much newspaper talk. This chief re-
ceived nine balls in the side from the
Emusic box" In one corner stands
the still loaded gun of Chief Cut Arm
of the Wood Crees, whose hand had at
one time been blown off He was
killed by shell at Frenchman's Butte.
In the other corner is Springfield
breechloader, which is relic evidently
OF the Custer massacre. Donald Ross
was one of Riers council, six-foot-
three brave who killed Captain French,
chief of the scouts. Els elaborate hat,
with the tail on top, is in the window.
In the background are saddle, saddle
cloth and bride Gold Mexican). A
medicine bag of elk skin was used by
Lieutenant Howard, after he had
emptied out the frogs, lizards and
such, as haversack Scattered around
in the window are such things as the
pool ball of Gabriel Dumas, Riels Gen.
eral, now in New York; Ratchet,
leggings made from British uniforms,
ugly Sioux war clubs, kin-a-kanick
tobacco, tom-tom. etc. On the side
hangs buffalo calf skin, on which is
depicted an Indian battle with soldiers,
bullets in the air and every thing.
This was evidently x-American.
1t is the only way the red man has of
handing down history and is considera-
bly, simpler than Froude's method, if
more crude. Above this hangs a Cree
bow, with arrows and culver. From
the center hang half-breed's sash,
hide scraper, an Indian charmer, 1.-TWO
human short ribs,) spoon, beaver
castor, a sample of the tobacco issued
by the Hudson Bay Company and ear
rings. There are also several photo
graphs of leading men Of the cam
paign. - Waterbury Comm american